Improvement in crutches



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

T. E. GORDON, OF BROOKLYN, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN CRUTGHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 45,709, dated January 3, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, T. E. GORDON, of Brooklyn, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crutches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and complete description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the crutch. Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections ot' thel lower end of the crutch.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the views.

My improvement relates to the manner ot' adjusting a projecting pointat the lower end ot' the crutch.

In Fig. l, A is the head of a crutch; B B, side pieces, inserted in the head, above which are arranged springs, as described in my former application. The side pieces are brought together at the lower end, as represented, with ferrules b b around them, and also a ferrule, I).

At this end of the crutch are arranged the devices for raising and lowering the point, which are fully represented in Figs. 2 and 3. The point h is secured in a tube, h', that moves in a cavity, e, in the crutch. Aroundv the lower end oi' this cavity is aferrule, c.

g is a nger that passes throughy a slot in the tube h', to each end ot' which is jointed a stop, g', that can be turned round either way. There are slots through the ferrule D and crutch into the tube h', in which the nger g and stops g move, projecting from each side, as represented. At the upper and lower ends of these slots the ferrule projects a little beyond the wood, so that the edge can take betterhold ot' the stops, the stops being curved inward, as represented, from the outside to the projection i in the middle, forming a notch for the edge ot the ferrule to catch into.

n is a rubber spring at the lower end of the slots, to aid in retaining the stops in place when turned up or down, as in the ligures, and when in the position as shown in Fig. 3 the point I projects beyond the lower end, as represented. position by means of the stops catching under the ferrule at the upper end ot' the slots, and the tin ger g resting or pressing on the lower ends.

When it is desired to elevate the point, move out the stops, draw up the point by moving up the linger g to the top of the slots, and then turn the stops g under, as in Fig. 2, which holds up the point. In this way the point can be adjusted up or down at pleasure, to better adapt the crutch for outdoor or indoor use. In traveling over ground, especially where it is rough or uneven, the point is of great service, but in the house it will indent the floor and wear out carpets.

G is a hand-piece connected with spiings in the side pieces, B B. There are holes in the lower ferrule, b-one above the otherthat when the lower one becomes worn away it can be fastened by means ot' the one above.

What I claim as my improvement, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The nger g, stops g', and springs n, in combination with the tube h and crutch, when arranged and operating conjointly as herein set forth.

fr. E. eoRDoN.

Witnesses W. H. BURRIDGE, A. W. MCGLELLAND.

It is firmly retained in this 

